Electrical smart switch thingmybob for my fridge…?

[Minerva]

I have a fridge on board which naturally draws quite a few amps. Not a problem as we have solar and also shore power when appropriate.

However the other week we were plugged in for a few days with the fridge going and the power went off in the Marina un noticed by us.

This got me thinking, is there a smart switch type device, which has a low parasitic load, that I can put in the feed to the fridge so that it only runs when the voltage >13v I.e solar delivering the goods or plugged in to shore power?

Thanks.

 

[lustyd]

While there are devices, consider the consequences. You may not notice the power getting low and the fridge being warm for a day then cooling again as solar kicks in. This could result in food poisoning quite easily since the food might end up cold despite having gone off.
Possibly better to have a battery alarm and switch the fridge off but be aware and proactively eat or bin the contents.

 

[starfire]

While there are devices, consider the consequences. You may not notice the power getting low and the fridge being warm for a day then cooling again as solar kicks in. This could result in food poisoning quite easily since the food might end up cold despite having gone off.
Possibly better to have a battery alarm and switch the fridge off but be aware and proactively eat or bin the contents.

I've always put an ice cube in the freezer bit, if it's gone, the powers been off.

 

[lustyd]

Ooh that’s clever. Although on my boat that means she’s been on the gin

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Ooh that’s clever. Although on my boat that means she’s been on the gin

Ice cubes have a short but merry life with us too.

Aside from that, unless there’s a way prioritise mains on the fridge, in which case its easy, that is a surprisingly difficult bit of automation.

 

[Hadenough]

I have a fridge on board which naturally draws quite a few amps. Not a problem as we have solar and also shore power when appropriate.

However the other week we were plugged in for a few days with the fridge going and the power went off in the Marina un noticed by us.

This got me thinking, is there a smart switch type device, which has a low parasitic load, that I can put in the feed to the fridge so that it only runs when the voltage >13v I.e solar delivering the goods or plugged in to shore power?

Thanks.

They appear to be out of stock but I have one of these.

Alfatronix PT10 PowerTector 10A Solid State Battery Guard​

 

[Concerto]

I have one of these fitted and it automatically switches to 240V when connected to shore power. I also fitted an isolating switch if I do not want the fridge on like working ashore during the winter.

Waeco CoolPower EPS100 Mains Adaptor 230V > 12/24V

 

[LiftyK]

I have a now unused FridgeMate that does what you want. If of interest, and I can find it, let me know. A tenner would be about right.